By Adadareporters
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Monday, flagged off the dualisation of the 43.7km Penoks-Abakpa Nike-Ugwogo-Nike-Opi Nsukka Road with streetlights.
The completion date of the road is 18-months, he said, adding that the timeframe was in tandem with his administration’s vision to make the state the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.
Mbah stressed that the project, which includes straightening the existing one, would drastically reduce accidents and criminality on the road.
In his words, “In the build-up to the election and in my acceptance speech after my election, we made a pledge that we are going to dualise the Penoks-Abakpa-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka Road because we realised from the outset that if we had to grow this economy to an exponential height, no section of this state should be left behind, more so an economic hub like Nsukka Zone. So, all we are doing here today is connecting those dots.”
Mbah regretted that a trip from Enugu to Nsukka presently takes over an hour, hence the decision to do the 3.6km from the Penoks Junction all the way to the T-Junction flyover in addition to the 41km Abakpa Nike-Opi Nsukka Road to reduce travel time to about 30 minutes and make it possible for the people to comfortably live and work in Enugu and vice versa.
He said his administration’s grass-roots-based development and economic model placed the Enugu North Zone at an advantage.
According to him, “We are doing projects based on electoral wards. Guess who are the greatest beneficiaries of this model? It is the Nsukka zone. You have 102 electoral wards. That means you will end up with 102 smart schools, 102 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, over 1,000km of roads since we are additionally going to do at least 10km of roads per ward.”
The traditional ruler of Edem-Ani and chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said, “The people of Nsukka cultural zone and Enugu North Senatorial District never imagined the possibility of this life-time project. The only way we can pay you back is that you do not need to come to campaign here for your second tenure because we are all going to do that for you. You are God-sent to the people of Nsukka, Enugu State and Nigeria at large.”
The deputy speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Ezeani Ezenta, said, “I feel emotional because a lot of things were said during the election. But today, by your good work, you have proved yourself even more Nsukka than any other Nsukka man.”
A former deputy governor of Enugu State, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, described the project as “gigantic, huge, unbelievable and marvelous,” noting that it would open Nsukka Zone and the state to the world.
“This is a legacy project,” he stated, adding that “Your name will never die. Your spirit shall never die. We will continue to give you support.”
The member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency and leader of the Enugu State Caucus of the National Assembly, Hon Nnoli Nnaji, expressed the delight of the federal lawmakers at the governor’s development initiatives and pledged their total support for him to move the state forward.
The CEO of COMAG Construction, Engr Cosmas Agu, pledged to deliver a high quality project and on schedule.
